City of Bakersfield made same repair 17 times on Westside Parkway off-ramp

by Investigative Reporter Kyle Harvey, Eyewitness News

A work crew makes repairs June 13, 2017 on the Truxtun Avenue exit from eastbound Westside Parkway in Bakersfield, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX photo)

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) —

Work crews Tuesday morning made repairs to a damaged guardrail at the end of the Westside Parkway that records show the city of Bakersfield has paid to fix 16 times before.

The Westside Parkway, which opened nearly four years ago, ends with a slightly banked circular exit onto Truxtun Avenue. Despite abundant signage and flashing lights warning drivers of the end of the roadway, Public Works Director Nick Fidler said Tuesday that people continue to strike the guardrail, mangling the metal and scraping off reflectors.

Receipts obtained by Eyewitness News using California's public record law show that the average repair costs taxpayers $1,895. In four years, more than $30,000 has been spent repairing the guardrail.

Fidler defends the design of the structure, telling Eyewitness News it was built to all state and federal standards.

The Westside Parkway will eventually continue through town, connecting with Highway 58, a stretch of highway that is referred to as the Centennial Corridor in planning documents.

When the corridor is built, drivers will have to make a conscious decision to leave the highway and take the loop down to Truxtun. Fidler said he believes then drivers may take the turn at safer speeds.

A plan is also in the works to replace the metal guardrail with a more durable one made of concrete.